NFL Notes: Free Agents QBs, Bengals, Patriots

Free Agents QBs

Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com writes that while it’s been very difficult for teams to find starting quarterbacks in free agency, “this could well be the closest supply will ever come to matching demand when it comes to that position in this era of the NFL.”

“Fans and media want their guy—the start-from-the-bottom, untainted rookie,” an AFC executive tells Breer. “And the Moneyball guys will say it’s cheaper through the draft, which is true. But if the point is to have a functional starting quarterback, any football guy will tell you that while everyone wants a Brady or Rodgers, the reality is those are fewer and farther between.

“So a Kirk Cousins or a Jimmy Garoppolo? I think football guys are drooling over that. If a guy like that gets out in free agency? You see what K.C. can do with Alex Smith. Put Cousins on a good squad with a good coach, I don’t know many football guys that’ll say that won’t work. And all those guys you named, they all can play at a starting caliber level … You can solve your problem before you get to the draft.”

Breer points out that the free agent quarterback market could include Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater, A.J. McCarron, and Jay Cutler with Tyrod Taylor and Alex Smith possibly being available as well.

We have a few of these quarterbacks featured in our Top 25 – 2018 NFL Free Agents List.

Bengals

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd addressed the recent report that he had been charged with possession of THC and not being registered to have a controlled substance on Friday.

“I’m just waiting on more time to get more information,” Boyd said, via Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Then I’ll have time to speak upon it. I’m trying to handle it the best way possible before I say anything and trying to get more information that way, talk more with my attorney, then I’ll give a statement. Until then I’m just trying to wait.”

Boyd’s attorneys — Anthony DeLuca and Daniel Konieczny — told Owczarski that he was not driving the car and had lent the vehicle to a friend.

“I want to be clear that there is no allegation that Tyler was in any way driving this vehicle,” DeLuca said. “He had lent it to a friend for a very specific purpose and while that friend has a car, he wrecked the car. Tyler was not in the car, around the car or with this individual when the accident occurred. I want to make that clear.

“There seems to be some factual confusion revolving around the issue of who possessed the marijuana located in the car.”

• The Bengals officially ruled out TE Tyler Eifert, FB/TE Ryan Hewitt, WR John Ross and S Derron Smith for Week 5’s game.

Patriots

• Adam Schefter reports that the Patriots expect TE Rob Gronkowski and RB Rex Burkhead to both be ready for their Week 6 matchup with the Jets in 10 days.